Pipe stabber



C. R. REED PIPE STABBER Sept. 16, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 21, 1967 nun/:15."

pt 6, 1969 c. R. REED 3,467,262

PIPE STABBER Filed March 21. 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV/iNl'UR 6 /1215; firm C. R. REED PIPE STABBER Sept. 16, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 21, 1967 INVENI'OR. [kw/m0" 0 @550 United States Patent I US. Cl. 2142.5 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus to be used in the well drilling industry to grasp suspended, substantially vertical joints of drill pipe and move them into a variety of locations. A stabbing head is provided with pivotal jaws capable of holding and releasing joints of drill pipe. The stabbing head is connected to a linearly extensible main ram which may be pivoted in a horizontal plane through a desired angle to enable the stabbing head to reach the points where the drill pipe is needed. A secondary power ram is connected to the main ram for pivoting the main ram about a vertical axis, thereby to vary the angular position of the main ram on its foundation.

Background of the invention This invention relates to pipe handling equipment used in the drilling of oil wells and the like, and more particularly to equipment to secure suspended drill pipe from dangerous swaying and swinging in a drilling rig and to move secured drill pipe from place to place in the drilling rig.

During the drilling of a well, such as an oil well, by means of a rotary tool drilling rig, it becomes necessary to periodically insert additional joints of drill pipe as the well is extended further and further into the ground or, if the drill bit needs replacement, to remove and temporarily store all of the drill pipe extending into the well. These drill pipe joints are generally stored some distance from the drill rig in a horizontal position, in the case of drilling from a floating vessel, or in the derrick of the rig in the case of shore-based operations. In the case of drilling from a floating vessel, the stored pipe joints may be delivered to the drilling rig manually or by automatic means as, for example, those described in US. Patent 3,083,842, granted on Apr. 2, 1963, to R. P. Bauer et al.

In order to raise the joints into a vertical position at the drilling site, one end of the joint is attached to the traveling block, usually via a swivel, in a derrick hoist and is lifted until the joint is in a substantially vertical position. As soon as the other end of the joint disengages its horizontal support, as, for example, the pipe carriage or a temporary holding device employed in the abovementioned Bauer patent, the joint is free to sway and swing in its supended position and, due to its mass, momentum, and unpredictable movement, may cause great damage to person and property. The likelihood of injury is especially high where the drilling is performed from a floating vessel subject to high winds, rolling, pitching, or heaving motions. It has been the practice in the past to manually restrain the joints from swaying, which prac tice is of limited effectiveness because of the limitations on human force, the danger of the joint slipping out of the hands of the person restraining it, etc.

The suspended joint has to be delivered to certain work locations, such as the center of the rotary table, the rat hole, or the pipe chute in cases of removal of the pipe from the well. In the past this has been done manually by guiding the vertically suspended pipe to the various locations. For reasons mentioned above, this is dangerous to person and property. Additionally, the task of guiding the 3,467,262 Patented Sept. 16, 1969 ice joint into relatively small openings is extremely difiicult under conditions where it must be performed in high winds on a pitching or rolling floating vessel.

Summary of invention The invention provides apparatus, referred to herein as a pipe stabber, for handling drill pipe and the like in the vicinity of a drill hole in a drilling rig. The apparatus includes a support structure fixed relative to the drilling rig and means for releasably grasping a joint of drill pipe and the like. The apparatus also includes reciprocating means pivotally mounted on the support structure and mounting the grasping means for movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the drill hole. The structure of the apparatus also includes power means for pivoting the reciprocating means about a substantially vertical axis relative to the support structure.

These and other advantages of the invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pipe stabber in an extended position adjacent a drilling rig rotary table with the pipe stabber grasping jaw in a retracted position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the pipe stabber in an extended and pivoted position adjacent the rat hole with the jaw grasping a joint of drill pipe and showing the positioning ram connected to the pipe stabber;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the pipe stabber in a retracted position adjacent a pipe chute with the jaws in an extended but open position to receive a joint of drill pipe, the joint of drill pipe being shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the pipe stabbing head with parts broken away and showing the jaw in an extended open position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation view showing the mechanism holding and releasing the swivel;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional plan view along line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side elevation of the jaw locking mechanism along line 77 of FIG. 4.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring briefly to FIGS. 1 through 3, one may see the task to be performed by the present invention. A joint 9 of drill pipe is located in pipe chute 10 formed by channels 12 and 14 and is suspended in a nearly vertical position, as indicated by the phantom lines in FIG. 3. By further raising the joint, the jaws of a stabbing head 16 engage the joint. The head 16 may then be linearly extended to deliver the joint to the rotary table 18 located in-line with the pipe chute, or it may be pivoted and extended to deliver the joint to the rat hole 20 located laterally of the rotary table relative to the pipe chute. Likewise, the stabbing head 16 may grasp a joint at either the rat hole or the rotary table and deliver it to the pipe chute for removal of the joint from the vicinity of a drill hole over which the rotary table is centered, or it may transport joints between the rotary table and the rat hole.

A support structure is mounted adjacent channel 14 forming part of the pipe chute 10 in fixed relation to rotary table 18. The support structure includes a horizontal apron 24. Apron 24 is provided with a shaft 26 extending upwardly and journaled in a main hydraulic ram cylinder 28. The hydraulic cylinder is provided with a pin 30 extending downwardly and engaging a curved slot 32 in the apron 24. The pivotal movement of cylinder 28 is thereby limited to the are prescribed by slot 32. The slot is preferably defined to limit the pivotal movement of head 16 to the are between the center of 3 rotary table 18 and rat hole 20, as shown in FIG. 2. It should be understood, however, that the means to limit the angular movement are not confined to the slot and pin shown in FIG. 2, but may include a variety of other suitable means such as coacting stops and lugs, for example.

Opposite pipe chute and adjacent channel 12 of the pipe chute is located a second support structure 34 similar to the one described above, containing an apron 36 on which a positioning ram cylinder 38 is pivotally mounted by means of a shaft 40 extending vertically from and being connected to the apron. The positioning cylinder slidably receives a ram piston 42 provided with a journal 43 at the end extending beyond cylinder 38 for slidably receiving a pin 44 suitably connected to main ram cylinder 28. Pin 44 may be removed from a supporting eye 45 to permit the positioning cylinder and ram 42 to be detached from cylinder 28 and pivoted into a position parallel to the pipe chute 10 in order to not obstruct the pipe chute when joints of drill pipe are moved to or removed from under the drilling rig derrick (not shown) under which the rotary table is positioned.

The stabbing head 16 is rigidly connected to a second stage main ram piston 46 which in turn is slidably mounted in a first stage ram 48. The main cylinder 28 receives first stage ram 48 which may be retracted into the cylinder 28, while second stage ram 46 may be retracted into the first stage ram. The stabbing head 16 is provided with a piston guide support 50 which prevents the stabbing head from being rotated relative to main cylinder 28. The piston guide support 50 comprises a piston guide housing 52 which slidably receives a first telescoping piston guide 54 and a second telescoping piston guide 56 which is rigidly attached to the stabbing head 16.

Suitable means (not shown) are provided to hydraulically energize the main cylinder 28 and the telescoping first ram 48 to hydraulically retract or extend the second telescoping ram 46 mounting the stabbing head 16. Suitable hydraulic means (not shown) are further provided to energize the positioning cylinder 38 to hydraulically extend or retract the ram 42 which is detachably connectable to the main cylinder 28.

When the stabbing head is in a retracted position, as shown in FIG. 3, it may be hydraulically extended by properly energizing the main ram assembly to linearly advance the stabbing head to a position adjacent rotary table 18, such that a joint of drill pipe picked up by the head at the pipe chute 10 is delivered to the rotary table 18. If it is desired to deliver drill pipe joints from the rotary table to the pipe chute for removal of the joint from under the drill rig, the operation is simply reversed and the cylinder 28 is energized such as to retract the stabbing head 16. Should the joint picked up by the stabbing head at the pipe chute be required at the rat hole, the positioning ram assembly is simply rotated on shaft 40 until journal 43 is aligned with eye 45 and secured to the eye by pin 44. Cylinder 28 is then energized as described above to extend stabbing head 16, and the positioning cylinder 38 is simultaneously energized to extend ram 42, thereby to cause main ram assembly 28, the stabbing head 16, and the joint of drill pipe held by the head to be moved laterally in a substantially horizontal plane. Pin 30 will automatically cause the pivotal movement of the main ram assembly to cease when it engages the appropriate end of slot 32 which is positioned such that at that time the center of the joint held by the head will be aligned with the rat hole when rams 46 and 48 are fully extended. Additionally, joints may be moved from the rat hole to the rotary table by leaving rams 46 and 48 in an extended position and by energizing cylinder 38 to retract ram 42, which operation will cause the main cylinder 28 to be pivoted until pin 30 engages the op- 4 posite end of the curved slot, at which time the center of the joint will be aligned with the center of rotary table 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 7, the construction and operation of the stabbing head 16 is described. Considering FIG. 4 first, the stabbing head is seen to include a main body 60 which is formed by two like top and bottom body plates 62 and 64 disposed parallel to each other, spaced apart to accommodate the cams 66, a jaw assembly 68, and connected by means of the transverse frames 70, 72, 74 and 76. The transverse frames preferably are welded to plates 62 and 64. The transverse frame plate 76 is slanted and semi-circular to accommodate the basically circular cams 66 of the jaw assembly 68.

Second stage ram 46 and second telescoping piston guide 56 are both connected to transverse frame 70. For example, ram 46 and piston guide 56 may be provided with bolting flanges (not shown) and transverse frame 70 with corresponding threaded holes (not shown) to rigidly, yet releasably, connect piston ram 46 and piston guide 56 to the pipe stabbing head by using conventional cap screws (not shown), or the like. Another alternative, shown in FIG. 4, to connect these members is to weld piston ram 46 and piston guide 56 to transverse frame 70.

Two like earns 66 are disposed in a parallel relationship and connected to a cylindrically curved face plate 78, the arc of the face plate being about 180. Each cam is provided with a bore through which a common pin 80 extends, the pin being attached to body plates 62 and 64, thereby permitting the component of the jaw assembly formed by face plate 78 and cams 66 to be pivoted relative to the body plates. The cams are provided with slots 82 and 84 which may be engaged by tongue 86. When the tongue engages the cams in either of the slots, the cams are locked against any rotational movement relative to the body plates. Slot 82 is disposed such as to lock the cams in an extended position of face plate 78, as shown in FIG. 3, and slot 84 is disposed such as to lock the cams in a retracted position of the jaw assembly, as shown in FIG. 1. Tongue 86 slides parallel to and along the face of transverse frame 74 and is confined in such movement by guide plates 88 and 90 attached to the body plates 62 and 64, respectively. The end of the tongue opposite the end thereof engaging the slots in the cams of the jaw assembly is provided with a lug 92 which carries a spring centering pin 94 over which a helical compression spring 96 is engaged. Transverse frame 72 extends beyond transverse frame 74, as shown in FIG. 4, and is provided with a spring centering pin 98 which is positioned to be opposite centering pin 94 on lug. 92. Spring 96 is centered between pins 94 and 98 and biases tongue 86 toward the jaw assembly cams. A lever 100 extends beyond body plates 62 and 64 from the tongue member to permit it to be grasped by the hand of an operator for disengagement of the tongue from the cams when it is desired to adjust the state of the jaw assembly.

The end of the face plate 78 furthest removed from earns 66 is provided with a tube-like journal 102 which receives a pivot pin 104 to which is mounted a swivel 106. Two brackets 108 are disposed parallel to each other, are spaced apart to accommodate the face plate between them, and are interconnected by a second cylindrically curved face plate 110. Brackets 108 are provided with suitable coaxial holes to receive pivot pin 104 which is securely mounted to the brackets by conventional means such as cotter pins (not shown). The portion of each bracket 108 extending beyond face plate 110 toward face plate 78 is widened to receive a stop 112 to limit the rotational movement of the swivel 106 in a clockwise direction relative to face plate 78, as viewed in FIG. 4. The inside edges of thhe brackets 108 is shaped to define a continuataion of the are formed by face plate 110 and defines an extension portion 114 which, when the swivel 106 is rotated in a clockwise direction about pin 104,

as viewed in FIG. 4, extends beyond face plate 78 of the jaw assembly. Disposed between stop 112 and the end of extension portion 114 is a slot 116 arranged to receive a lock bar 118 when the swivel 106 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, relative to face plate 78 until face plates 78 and 110 have essentially coincident centers of curvature; the lock bar then engages slots 116 and releasably secures the face plates in this relation.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the lock bar has a generally T-shaped configuration and is provided with a U-shaped handle 120 connected across the lateral legs of the lock bar. A curved guide plate 122 is provided with a forward stop prong 124 and lateral guides 126 and 128 (as best seen in FIG. 6) for limiting and defining the travel of the lock bar 118 along the convex surface of face plate 78. A spring centering pin 130 is connected to the lock bar at the end opposite the end mounting handle 120. Fixedly connected to the convex surface of face plate 78 is a lug 132 provided with a spring centering pin 134. Ahelical compression spring 136 is centered between pin 130 and pin 134 so that the lock bar 118 is biased in a direction toward the swivel 106.

In order to stiffen the parallel plates 62 and 64, a transverse frame 138 is connected between the plates at the sides thereof opposite from ram 46. An elongated opening 140 is provided in transverse frame 138 to accommodate tongue operating lever 100. Frame 138 is further provided with a slanted portion 142 adjacent to but spaced from the cams, thereby defining a receptacle for the jaw assembly in its retracted position.

Still referring to FIGS. 4 through 7, the operation of the stabbing head may now be described. If the stabbing head is assumed to be in a position as shown in FIG. 3, the jaw assembly 68 is retracted into the stabbing head against element 142 in order to not obstruct pipe chute 10. If a new joint of drill pipe is delivered on the pipe chute for insertion into either the rat hole or the drill hole in rotary table 18, lever 100 is pulled to counteract the biasing force of spring 96, thereby retracting tongue 86 such as to become disengaged from cam slots 84. As soon as the tongue clears the slots, the jaw assembly 68 may be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction about shaft 80 by pulling on a handle 146 attached to the convex surface of face plate 110. The operator may then release handle 100 and spring 96 will bias tongue 86 against the circular periphery 147 of cams 66. Continuation of the pivoting movement of the jaw assembly will cause slot 82 to fall in line with tongue 86, and the tongue will immediately engage this slot by virtue of it being biased in an engaging direction by spring 96. Engagement of the tongue in slot 82 now locks the jaw assembly 68 in an extended position such that it may engage a vertically or nearly vertically suspended joint of drill pipe. Before the joint may be inserted in the jaw, the operator pulls handle 120 in a direction to counteract the force of spring 136 in order to disengage lock bar 118 from its engagement with slots 116 in swivel 106. This permits the swivel to be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, until the stop 112 comes in contact with the face plate 78. A large opening that may receive the joint of drill pipe is thereby formed. When the vertically suspended joint approaches the inside of the jaw assembly 68 it will engage extension portion 114 of brackets 108 extending beyond the arc formed by the concave surface of face plate 78. The force exerted by the joint against the extension portions causes the swivel to be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, and lock bar 118, being biased against the periphery 148 of brackets 108 by the helical compression spring 136, will engage slots 116 when face plate 110 forms a substantially circular arc with face plate 78. Engagement of lock bar 118 with slot 116 locks the swivel against being rotated into an open position and effectively confines the joint of drill pipe between the swivel and the jaw assembly.

The stabbing head 16 is now ready to move the joint into a variety of locations by actuating the rams as described above. Upon bringing the joint into the desired location, as, for example, over rat hole 20 where the joint is to be temporaily stored in a vertical position, the pipe is lowered by means of a hoist assembly (not shown) until the lower end of the joint engages the rat hole. The operator then releases swivel 106 from its locked position by pulling on handle 120 in a direction to counteract the force of the spring 136. The swivel may now be opened and the joint may be fully inserted into the rat hole, after which the stabbing head may be retracted by energizing the main ram assembly.

Should it be desired for one reason or another to not fully insert the joint into the rat hole such that its upper end will extend above the rat hole, stabbing head 16 may still be retracted by pulling level to disengage tongue 86 from cam slots 82 and rotating jaw assembly 68 in a clockwise retracting direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, until the tongue engages slots 84. The jaw and the swivel are then clear of the joint and the stabbing head 16 may be retracted.

Preferably the curvature of face plates 78 and is slightly greater than the outer curvature of a pipe handled by the stabbing head. In the event that it is desired to handle pipe of different size, the jaw assembly and swivel for one size of pipe may be removed from the stabbing head and a jaw assembly and swivel for a different size pipe inserted in its place. This operation can be performed readily by disconnecting shaft 80 from between body plates 62 and 64, thereby permitting removal of one jaw assembly and the insertion of another. Alternatively, the entire stabbing head may be removed from ram 46 and guide 56; if this practice is to be followed, the stabbing head is bolted to the ram and guide as described above.

What is claimed is:

1. In a drilling rig installation including a drilling platform, a rotary table in the platform, and a pipe chute on the platform between the rotary table and a pipe storage area adjacent the platform, a pipe handling apparatus comprising a support structure fixedly mounted relative to the platform adjacent the pipe chute, jaw means for releasably grasping a joint of a drill pipe, reciprocal means connected between the jaw means and the support structure operable for moving the jaw means along a straight line from the pipe chute to the rotary table, the jaw means being configured and arranged both for (a) grasping a pipe joint at the chute, movement along said line to transfer the grasped joint to the rotary table, releasing the joint at the rotary table, and returning along said line to the pipe chute, and

(b) grasping a pipe joint at the rotary table, movement along said line to transfer the grasped joint to the pipe chute, releasing the joint at the chute, and returning along said line to the rotary table.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the jaw means includes a body disposed laterally of a pipe movement line between the pipe chute and the rotary table, and jaw members movably mounted to the body for projection from the body toward the pipe movement line for securing a pipe joint relative to the body, the jaw members also being mounted for positioning relative to the body so that the body is movable in either direction along said straight line, parallel to the pipe movement line, relative to a pipe joint.

3. Apparatus for handling drill pipe and the like in the vicinity of a drill hole in a drilling rig comprising (a) a support structure fixedly mounted relative to the drilling rig,

(b) jaw means for releasably grasping a joint of drill pipe and the like including (1) a body, (2) a first jaw member pivotally mounted to the body,

(3) a second jaw member pivotally connected to the first jaw member at a location on the first jaw member spaced from the pivotal connection thereof to the body and moveable relative to the first jaw member between i (i) a pipe joint releasing first position and (ii) a pipe joint securing second position, and

(4) means coupled between the jaw members for releasably locking the second jaw member in its second position.

() reciprocating means pivotally mounted on said support structure and mounting the jaw means for movement of said jaw means relative to the support structure in a plane substantially perpendicular to the drill hole, and

((1) power means for pivoting the reciprocating means about a substantially vertical axis relative to the support structure. i

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the first jaw member is moveable between a pipe joint releasing first position relative to the body and a pipe joint securing second position relative to the body, and including means for releasably locking the first jaw member in its second position relative to the body.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the first jaw member has an arcuately curved pipe joint engaging portion extending away from the connection of the first jaw member to the body, the second jaw member is arouately curved in a manner similar to said portion of the first jaw member, and the second jaw member is configured and arranged relative to the first jaw member so that when the first jaw member is disposed in its second position and the second jaw member is disposed in its first position, and when a pipe joint is moved into engagement with said curved portion of the first jaw member, the second jaw member is operatively engaged by the pipe joint and is moved into its second position.

6. Apparatus according to claim '5 wherein the means for releasably locking the second jaw member and the second jaw member are cooperatively arranged for automatically locking the second jaw member in its second position upon movement thereof from said first position to said second position relative to the first jaw member.

7. Apparatus according to claim 3 including means operatively associated with the jaw means for maintaining a selected angular relation between the jaw means and the support structure about said line.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,733,987 10/1929 Ingle.

2,162,653 6/1939 Umphres 214-25 2,692,059 10/1954 Bolling 214-25 2,737,839 3/1956 Paget 2l4-2.5 XR 2,875,913 3/1959 Gohrke et a1 294-67 XR 3,165,345 1/1965 Gardner 294-67 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner F. E. WERNER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 214-1; 294-104 

